43 years ago

43 years ago on the 3rd of October Steve and I were married. I posted this image on my Instagram last week and it had the biggest response ever so I thought I'd dedicate this week's post to our happiest of days. 

We were married at the Registry Office on St Mary's followed by our wedding reception on Tresco - a half hour boat ride away by open boat.

The boatman of the day was David Stedeford, kingpin of Bryher Boats in those days. He told us that had it not been for the fact of our wedding that they would have cancelled the boattrip as the weather was so rough. This fact was wasted on me as I spent the entire day floating along on cloud nine! 

Steve and I sat under cover with my mother-in-law Kate and sister-in-law Gill with her children, Steven, Kate and babe in arms Gem. I recall that the sun was shining despite the atrocious state of the sea which I viewed as if I were somehow removed from it all. Seemingly it was a hellish trip. My best friend Marjory hung her head over the side of the boat for the entire journey puking her guts up as the waves crashed over her head - poor Marj!

We arrived at Old Grimsby and were met by the pony and trap, the traditional mode of transport for weddings at that time. 

Our wedding reception was at the Island Hotel which was also my place of work. I was a scatty chambermaid in those days. Our photographer was John Davidson a friend and fellow employee from work. 

Steve's fellow gig rowers were waiting for us at the hotel creating an archway with the gig paddles for us to pass under for good luck. Steve had rowed Stroke in the Czar for many years before I turned up on Tresco and he carried on with that for many more after we were married.

No blog post of mine would be complete without reference to my outfit... The wedding gown came from Pronuptia in Truro and was made of the finest Itailian tulle. It cost me £220 which in those days seemed outrageous. The lace was cream in colour and was beautifully weighty. The lace collar however wouldn't stand up as I had hoped despite much pinning and spraying the night before, however once on, I forgot all of that and felt like a princess for the day!

Marjorie has dried off by this time. I don't think she ever forgot that terrible bumpy boat ride where she thought she might die.

The last posed photo of the day. All too soon it was time for us to head off to the airport on our way to Tenerife for our honeymoon.

And this is my favourite photo of the day. The deed was done, the wedding breakfast and speeches over and at last we were able to relax. I was so relieved! In fact, I pretty much look like the cat who got the cream, which I was. Steve was Tresco's most eligible bachelor when I arrived on Tresco in 1978 and some three years later we were married. One or two of the local girls were not impressed that I'd swooped in and scooped him up, but hey, I fancy he had some say in the matter too. 

I do hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me. Steve and I have been together for 46 years now, married for 43 and can highly recommend it!

                                                                        Anna x

Kate and Andy got married!

Within our small island community we don't have many local weddings, although some visitors do come here to get married. It was therefore hugely exciting to see the much loved Kate Clement and Andy Lawson get wed last Saturday, the 10th November 2018. 

The proud father of the bride escorts her down the aisle. The church was full with standing room only for latecomers. Kate spent the entire day with an enormous grin across her face - she had looked forward to this moment for a long time.

Dearest Kate! I love her earnest look as Andy takes his vows. Talk about hanging on his every word!

The relief is enormous as the happy couple emerge from the church. Andy is a member of our Auxiliary Fire Service which explains the water hose above the church doorway. Kate rowed in the ladies gig crew for many years hence the gig paddles creating an archway for the happy couple to pass through for luck.

The wedding day weather had been a mixture of sunshine and showers. We were all delighted when the bride arrived in glorious sunshine. But just as Mr & Mrs Lawson stepped outside the porch to start married life together the heavens opened!

This has to be my favourite capture of the day. Kate looks radiant as she huddles together with her darling nieces.

Gemma and Elsa are terribly chic young ladies.

The bride and groom, the bridesmaids and best man all took refuge in the fire truck which transported them all on to the Abbey Gardens for a photo shoot.

Kate came to the island 11 years ago to volunteer for a week at the Abbey Garden. After extending her stay for another two weeks she was offered a job as gardener on the Cottage Department where she still works happily, enjoying the independence it gives her as well as the opportunity to be creative as she tends the small cottage gardens preparing them for the new influx of guests. 

Andy is the Head Gardener at the Abbey Garden and can be seen throughout the summer giving guided tours through his empire. He is an expert tree surgeon too as well as a skilled propagator and veg gardener. His love of plants has led him to travel far and wide, gathering specimens to add to the garden collection.

Andy and Kate have been together for 10 years now. Their joint passion for plants is a strong bond between them - tomorrow the couple are leaving to go on honeymoon to South Africa, home to many of the plants Andy cares for within the Garden.

A reminder of the other aspect of Kate's life - she loves to sea swim and we've had many an adventure together. We encountered inquisitive seals as we swam from Samson to St Agnes on a training day and we've also battled our way through a lively sea swell with a brisk head wind the time we decided to swim from New Grimsby to Appletree Bay just for a laugh. Kate is a true water babe who rocks a bikini too!

Kate and Andy are at the heart of our community, involved in all the things that cement island life, from the annual fete to weekly cricket, table tennis and card games in the pub as well as Sunday drinks gatherings on their patio which affords the best vantage point across New Grimsby. This long awaited wedding was a wonderful gathering of both families from as far as Bali, Denmark, France and Scotland and friends, also from far flung places as well as those from the islands. Congratulations to this much loved and popular couple - thank you for including us in this unique island event. Three cheers for Mr & Mrs Lawson!

P.S. Before you ask, the photos were professionally done and secondly if you want to see what I wore, then you'll have to come back on Monday...

Anna x